Girl · #15,082 in 2026

Kava

Kava or kava kava is a plant in the pepper family, native to the Pacific Islands. The name kava is from Tongan and Marquesan, meaning 'bitter'. Kava can refer to either the plant or a psychoactive beverage made from its root. The beverage is a traditional ceremonial and recreational drink from Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. Nakamals and kava bars exist in many countries.

Current Rank
#15,082
Peak Rank
#7,472 (1969)
Total Babies
15
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1969
First Year
2020
Last Year
1969
Peak Year
#7472
Peak Rank
15
Total Count
3
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kava

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Kava or kava kava is a plant in the pepper family, native to the Pacific Islands. The name kava is from Tongan and Marquesan, meaning 'bitter'. Kava can refer to either the plant or a psychoactive beverage made from its root. The beverage is a traditional ceremonial and recreational drink from Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. Nakamals and kava bars exist in many countries.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Kava

Kava first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1969, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1969, when 5 Kavas were born — ranking #7,472 that year. As of 2026, Kava ranks #15,082 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 15 Kavas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
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OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
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RI
CA
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NE
MO
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MD
DE
DC
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Top 10
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500+
No data

Names that sound like Kava

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kava is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kava

What does the name Kava mean?
Kava or kava kava is a plant in the pepper family, native to the Pacific Islands. The name kava is from Tongan and Marquesan, meaning 'bitter'. Kava can refer to either the plant or a psychoactive beverage made from its root. The beverage is a traditional ceremonial and recreational drink from Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. Nakamals and kava bars exist in many countries.
How popular is Kava in 2026?
In 2026, Kava ranks #15,082 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Kava most popular?
Kava reached its peak popularity in 1969, ranking #7,472 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Kava a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kava is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Kava?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kava include Aimi, Aliisa, Anke. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Aimi
Peak #7472
👧
Aliisa
Peak #7472
👧
Anke
Peak #7472
👧
Arlynda
Peak #7472
👧
Betrina
Peak #7472
👧
Biafra
Peak #7472
👧
Bronica
Peak #7472
👧
Cathlena
Peak #7472

About the name Kava

Kava is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1969 and has accumulated 15 births in the dataset. Kava's peak popularity came in 1969 when it ranked #7,472. Use the chart and map above to compare Kava's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.